Piccinni's first French opera was Roland (1778) an adaptation by Marmontel of a libretto by Quinault. Atys represents a more experienced and effective approach to the same genre in which Quinault's texts were altered to acc ommodate the Italianate style in vogue at the time. Following the postponement of his Iphigénie en Tauride in favor of Gluck's Atys was a crucial work for Piccinni; it was a considerable success. Among its best features which re concile the expansive style of the Italian musician with the forms and spirit of French opera are the fugal overture the dream sequence in Act II the long quartet at the dramatic climax and the somber dirge with which it ends.

Julian Rushton: